Page 12 - Energize March 2021

NEWS

Energy storage: a key piece of the puzzle phased deployment across multiple strategic
sites in a grid network. This supports in
in South Africa’s energy transition deferring expensive grid upgrades and
addressing local grid issues such as voltage
challenges.
Supported by continued cost reductions and technological improvements, utility-scale Driven by research and development
energy storage is set to play an important role in South Africa’s energy transition from the electric vehicle industry, battery
technologies continue to improve. Prices
have decreased dramatically over the past
by Michael Ball and Gabriele Buccini, Wärtsilä years and are expected to continue declining
sharply, broadening the business case for
outh Africa has ambitious plans to expand its renewable energy generating capacity. power sector and industrial applications.
Capacity additions envisioned under the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019, combined The industry continues to leverage
Swith the growth of embedded generation, could see over 20 000 MW of wind and solar PV learnings and experiences from the rapid
capacity added to the grid by 2030 (IRP 2019). Wind and solar PV could therefore make up over global adoption of energy storage. Along
33% of the country’s installed capacity and over 24% of total electricity generation by the end of with battery technology improvements,
the decade. storage software integration and
These capacity additions would support in overcoming the current power crisis, while optimisation play a key role in validating
lowering electricity generation costs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. battery performances and enabling new
The roll-out of wind and solar PV projects will undoubtedly deliver significant benefits to the ways to fully exploit batteries’ potential
country’s power sector and broader economy. The intermittent nature of these technologies does, in the most effective, reliable, and
however, pose unique challenges for the system operator in maintaining a secure and stable economical manner.
power grid. Given the capabilities of the technology,
Eskom currently relies heavily on its coal power plant fleet to stabilise the grid. Most of these energy storage is well suited to supporting
power plants were commissioned before the 1980s and utilise ageing equipment prone to tripping grids through continuous charging and
and unplanned maintenance. discharging cycles. The technology would,
These plants also lack the required operational flexibility to effectively balance the high however, need to be supported by flexible
degree of variability of wind and solar PV generation. Requesting them to do so would only thermal capacity to manage interday and
further decrease the reliability and lifespan of these coal plants. seasonal balancing. Gas engines are well
To ensure that the national grid remains stable in the face of growing renewable suited to provide this additional flexibility.
intermittency, the IRP 2019 paves the way for the addition of over 2000 MW of energy storage and In the context of ensuring a just energy
3000 MW of flexible gas-fired capacity by 2030. transition, it is important to promote
Progress has already been made in implementing these plans. In July 2020, Eskom issued a job creation and participation by local
procurement notice for an energy storage project of 80 MW/320 MWh. This project forms part of a companies in energy storage projects. Whilst
larger Eskom energy storage roll-out programme of 360 MW/1440 MWh. the capabilities of South African companies
In August 2020, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy released the 2000 MW to participate in these projects is currently
Risk Mitigation IPP procurement programme to support in alleviating the country’s power limited, several players are ramping up
crisis. Given the stringent dispatchability and flexibility requirements of the programme, many capabilities to be at the forefront of this
developers have shown strong interest in deploying energy storage alongside traditional thermal energy transition. n
and renewable technologies. Under this programme, energy storage was shown to enable
developers to maximise the use of low-cost renewable energy whilst ensuring dispatchability and Contact Wayne Glossop, Wärtsilä,
flexibility regardless of changing wind and solar conditions. Tel 021 511-1230, wayne.glossop@wartsila.com
More generally,
the near instantaneous
response to dispatch
instructions makes
energy storage ideally
suited to manage
renewable variability.
Longer duration
energy storage could
also support in shifting
excess renewable
generation and
provide load following
capabilities.
The minimal space
requirements and
modular design of the
technology allows for

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